Slovakia charges a refundable deposit on many single-use plastic drink bottles and cans. The routine is simple once you know what to look for: keep an eligible container intact, take it to a participating collection point, and redeem the returned deposit.
Which bottles and cans carry a deposit?
The deposit applies to eligible single-use plastic PET bottles and metal drink cans with a capacity from 0.1 to 3 litres, inclusive. The deposit is €0.15 per container, regardless of its size or whether it is a bottle or can.
According to the official Slovakia Deposit System administrator, common examples include containers for:
- mineral water and other bottled water;
- soft drinks and iced tea;
- fruit juice;
- energy drinks;
- beer and wine; and
- mixed alcoholic drinks containing no more than 15% alcohol.
Containers for milk, milk-based drinks, syrups, and alcoholic drinks containing more than 15% alcohol are excluded. A plastic container for oil, vinegar, detergent, or another non-beverage product is also not part of this drink-container system.
Glass bottles are not covered by this particular scheme. Some reusable glass bottles have a separate retailer deposit, so check the shelf label and ask the shop about its return arrangements.
How to identify deposit packaging
Do not decide from the container material alone. Look near the barcode for the official mark: a large “Z” inside recycling arrows, accompanied by the Slovak word “ZÁLOHOVANÉ”, meaning “deposit-bearing.”
The €0.15 deposit should be shown separately from the drink price on the shelf information and receipt. A similar-looking bottle without the Slovak deposit mark cannot be returned for a refund through this system.
This distinction is especially useful with imported drinks bought from specialist shops. For more help with everyday food shopping, see LovinSK’s guide to Asian groceries in Slovakia.
Prepare containers before returning them
A return machine must be able to identify the registered container. Follow this checklist:
- Empty it: Do not return a bottle or can containing liquid.
- Keep it uncrushed: Do not flatten, compact, or tightly squeeze it.
- Protect the label and barcode: The barcode must remain attached and readable.
- Keep the bottle cap on: Official guidance asks consumers to return plastic bottles with their caps.
- Check the deposit mark: Confirm that the “Z” symbol and “ZÁLOHOVANÉ” text are present.
A quick rinse may make storage cleaner, but the official consumer instructions focus on returning the container empty, intact, and identifiable rather than requiring it to be washed.
Where to return bottles and cans
You may return an eligible container at any participating collection point in Slovakia; it does not have to be the shop where you bought the drink. Use the administrator’s official collection-point map to find a nearby location and check whether it uses a machine or manual collection.
Retail premises with a sales area above 300 square metres are mandatory collection points. Smaller shops can participate voluntarily, so not every small grocery store accepts returns.
The map distinguishes several types of collection point:
| Collection type | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Automated | You insert containers into a return machine, often called a zálohomat. |
| Manual | A member of staff receives and checks the containers. |
| Mandatory | A larger retailer required to provide collection and cash reimbursement. |
| Voluntary | A smaller participating retailer that may provide only a discount against a purchase. |
| Alternative collection | A collection arrangement where containers may support a charity or public-purpose project, without paying the deposit directly to the person returning them. |
How to use a return machine
- Check that each bottle or can is empty, intact, and marked “ZÁLOHOVANÉ.”
- Place containers into the machine one at a time, following the pictures or instructions on its screen.
- Let the machine scan and accept each item. Do not force a rejected container into the opening.
- When finished, select the on-screen option to complete the return.
- Take the printed voucher before leaving the machine.
The machine records accepted containers and calculates the refund at €0.15 each. For example, returning ten accepted containers produces a voucher worth €1.50.
Manual collection follows the same basic rules, but shop staff inspect or scan the containers instead of an automated machine.
Using the refund voucher
A return-machine voucher is normally redeemed at the checkout of the store where the containers were returned. The Ministry of Environment states that the voucher can be applied as a discount on a purchase or exchanged for cash.
Do not assume that a voucher from one retailer or branch will be accepted elsewhere. Present it at the checkout in the same store, ideally during the same visit, and keep it readable until it has been redeemed.
Mandatory collection points must provide the cash-refund option. A voluntary collection point in premises below 300 square metres may instead offer only a purchase discount equal to the returned deposit. Check the collection-point information or ask staff if you specifically need cash.
Why a machine may reject a container
A rejection does not necessarily mean that the machine is broken. Common reasons include:
- the container has no Slovak “ZÁLOHOVANÉ” mark;
- it was purchased abroad and is not registered in the Slovak system;
- the barcode or label is missing, torn, or unreadable;
- the bottle or can is crushed or badly deformed;
- the container is not empty;
- its size or contents place it outside the deposit scheme; or
- the particular machine temporarily cannot process an otherwise eligible item.
If the container appears eligible, check its shape, label, and barcode, then try inserting it again in the position shown on the machine. If it is rejected repeatedly, ask a member of staff whether it can be checked manually.
A non-deposit plastic bottle or metal can should generally go into the appropriate local sorted-waste collection rather than the deposit machine. LovinSK’s complete guide to waste sorting in Slovakia explains the broader colour-coded system.
A simple return routine
- Check for the “Z” deposit symbol when buying a drink.
- Store empty containers without crushing them.
- Keep their labels, barcodes, and bottle caps intact.
- Take them on your next grocery trip.
- Insert them individually and collect the voucher.
- Redeem the voucher at that store’s checkout.
If you are trying to reduce the number of bottles you buy, Slovakia’s drinking-water rules and practical considerations are covered in LovinSK’s guide to tap water in Slovakia.
Frequently asked questions
Can I return a bottle to a different shop from where I bought it?
Yes. You can return an eligible Slovak deposit container at any participating collection point. However, redeem the resulting voucher at the store where you made the return.
Do I need the original purchase receipt?
No. The system identifies the container from its deposit marking, barcode, and physical condition rather than from your shopping receipt.
Can I return crushed cans or bottles?
No. Return them empty and uncrushed, with a readable barcode. The machine needs to recognize the container before it processes and compacts it.
Can I return bottles bought outside Slovakia?
Only containers registered in the Slovak deposit system and carrying its official “ZÁLOHOVANÉ” marking qualify. A foreign deposit symbol or similar container shape is not sufficient.
